Cost to Build Small Designer Home by Owner Builder

Are you looking for a house design that can be built efficiently? Then you want to watch this video discussing what makes this small home a great option for owner builders. In the video we share the cost to build, current builder markup and gross profit, and dive into the current low cost of lumber.
Looking to build your own dream home? Then check out the "Build Your Own Home" online course at ownerbuilderclass.com/
Interested in the house plan shown in this video? Click the link below to see the house plan available at America's Best House Plans.
www.houseplans.net/floorplans...
The cost to build mentioned in the video is taken from national cost data numbers and will vary based on local building codes, finishes, lot development costs, soil conditions, owner builder experience and ability...etc. Those thinking of building this house design should go through the normal planning and bidding process prior to putting any money into the project to see if the projected costs will meet their personal budget.

[@landocalrissian3704]

I love these videos. Your channel gives me hope for being a home-owner in the future.

[@ariv8585]

I’m glad I found this video, answered so many of my questions

[@stscc2009]

I really like this floor plan and the curb appeal.

[@jtalias]

This home was designed by House Plan Zone (hpzplans) out of Mississippi. They are amazing at space efficient house plans. I am currently using one of their plans for my own build.

[@fraza9807]

Do they (HPZone) charge money if you use their plan for home build?? Like foundation plan, floor plan and etc. .

[@jtalias]

@@fraza9807 yes

[@yaboi9419]

I really like these vids. Keep it up man!

[@LarryDiamond-te3yt]

Glad I found you guys. We might be closing on some land. Have been meeting with and reviewing investigating builders. Some of the lower cost ones seem very risky and maximizing profits. We’ve found some pricier ones that are more ‘legit’. We do not have the skill set to be a general contractor. Do people hire a GC and if so how to find a good one? Some middle ground. Appreciate the insights of folks much more knowledgeable and experienced than I…

[@Airpaycheck]

Nice floorplan! A bigger garage is always a plus for me, especially a third bay. One thing I don't like about main entry directly into the living area is cold air coming in during winter months when the door is opened. A small hallway, enclosed entry would prevent those drafts.

[@friendlybill6109]

It’s not apparent to me how building this plan as shown on the floor plan would provide an opportunity for future expansion. You could modify the plan and provide a staircase to get to a basement or second story however.

[@mathisnotforthefaintofheart]

That's exactly how European houses are made. All European houses have a small hallway before entering the living room

[@stevenwilliamson6234]

@@mathisnotforthefaintofheart This is true, most of our homes are on more than one level to make the most of smaller plot sizes, therefore the hallway would also contain a staircase. I don't know many people here in Europe who would have such a large garage relative to the house size, and very few of us actually park our cars in the garage. Many people have converted garage space into living space.

[@Togglefree]

Very nice home!

[@JawHacks]

Thank you.

[@manneil011]

Thank you for these kind of videos

[@billdoherty5332]

Thank you

[@gloriaratcliffeszawlowski4797]

First video, thanks, very informative.

[@FeedScrn]

Nice video. Short and to the point. Seems expensive though. I seen other video thumbnails that popped up after this video ended with bigger homes and lower build costs. Just saying. Maybe they were older videos, when the prices were not as high(?).

[@JoseVazquez-gj8oy]

Thank you so much for informative videos. Would these prices include electric and sewer/water hook ups or is that an extra cost also?

[@carolschedler3832]

First!!!🎉🎉🎉. Love your tips and info!

[@joebazooks]

man i wish this kind of content existed for canada, specifically bc, canada

[@cheesemaster113]

I really like this one. Personally, id be looking for something a little bit of a step up and with a smaller emphasis on the 2 car garage taking up half of the broadside of the house. Definitely looks good for a first time homeowner or people with one or two kids. Prices are coming down!

[@Nigel__]

I agree about the garage. There’s a version of this home plan with a side entry garage. I think that makes the home look much better.

[@Davitofrito]

I feel like starter homes are a dream. I work hard but 22/hr is the most I've ever made. My gf is similar and we are both in our 30s with our first child. It just seems like finding anything in Arizona in a nice neighborhood is a pipe dream. You used to be able to get a good home for 200k. Now so many homes that were affordable are 400k and up. Wish homes like the one featured were what is getting built but the new fad is to build tiny homes, with no yard, right next to each other that have the floor space of a small apartment. Maybe the looming recession will hopefully deflate prices.

[@rangerdoc1029]

Gotta get out of Arizona (it's practically East LA now). I'm an AZ native but left 20 years ago. It was already too expensive then.

[@MattSyTy]

I'm going the owner builder route on a new home soon. Hopefully, work will accommodate my sabbaticals! Looking at a nice kit from Linwood Homes. It is about 275k for the package to be trucked from Canada. They do allow some modifications that will likely bring the cost up. It's nice to see what i can get from Menards, but they just look like every other track home and wouldn't fit the neighborhood I'm in. Situationally, I selected a house kit that will perform well in high wind; has only two roof pitches for optimum solar area, and takes advantage of the view lot. I went through many plans and decided to pay more for the right fit house.

[@kennixox262]

Looks like one of those magazine house plans. I hope that they offer some serious insulation in the walls, conditioned attic space, upgraded windows and better quality HVAC.

[@reedsessions6892]

I really like this plan, however we also want a loft where we can have a large room and maybe a bathroom for kids to play and store toys. Is there a mod to add that? Or another plan that would offer that and be pretty similar?

[@whomeverwherever]

Love windows over the kitchen sink and in both bathrooms. Now, if it was constructed with concrete block, I’d love it for central FL.

[@adc9270]

I subscribed 1st view of this, my first vid. I like that you are talking about smaller homes and how to cut cost. I also like that you provide your "opinion" of other businesses in the industry that do good work. Much needed information for people who want a home but not a huge stressful debt. Paying Horton or any other builder 30-40% markup is ridiculous. I would like to know the pros and cons of a basement. A basement just seems like a good idea. I would rather have a basement than a garage and would give up a lot of other features for that. Thx.

[@jmwintenn]

only con of a basement is water getting in if it's not done properly.

[@jj4ester366]

@@jmwintenn Wow. Really? So a basement SHOULDN'T be filled with water? Man, that's new advice! I would've never thought of that! You're mom must be so proud that her Little Man is so smart! Maybe you can use that big brain to find a way to move out of her basement now!

[@GlorifyYahweh]

Have you considered a Frog? Room above the garage

[@GlorifyYahweh]

I turned my frog into a living room, letting me use my open concept area for additional space and living area

[@jesse20241]

Many builders mark up 70% and up these days. It’s ridiculous

[@markstevens1729]

I have done this, built my own 2000 sq/ft, high efficiency home, almost passive home level, at almost exactly that price.

[@laurie2715]

That’s great ! Do you have info on your own build that helped you keep your costs down ? Did you do a percentage of the work yourself ?

[@markstevens1729]

@@laurie2715 just like the title says: owner builder, and that’s me. I designed the home, drew the plans, was the general contractor and did 90 percent of all the construction myself with a single helper at most times. I had a consulting plumber, electrician and subbed out only spray foam, gutters and concrete finishing. From breaking ground to moving in took 33 months.

[@laurie2715]

@@markstevens1729 that is great ! That’s not long with considering you did it a lot alone ! You saved a lot of money 👍

[@tristatehomesllc599]

Built this plan for 170k

[@bobcollins-oy2yu]

wow, how long ago did you finish your project?

[@bourbonrebel5515]

Can you do a video about post frame homes

[@matthewfuller9760]

Is the owner /builder course materials available for download once purchased? I may not build for several years.

[@ginotarabotto]

Thanks! What is Brick at Grade?

[@mickgrm8166]

this price including labor or material only?

[@sa3270]

It's a pretty home. But the layout is too "trendy" and not for the way I live. I don't like how you walk straight into the living room and have full visibility of the only dining area and kitchen too. Also I rather have a coat closet instead of a "locker", that storage area in the garage would be where the water heater goes, and that barn door on the master bath needs to be replaced with a pocket door or regular door. Is this pier and beam construction? Lower the garage floor to grade so that you don't have that awkward raised driveway and step down/step up to get to the front door.

[@nebulousJames12345]

how much for only materials?

[@pocho5544]

Question, what if I want to do all the work my self except electrical, hvac, and plumbing. How much can I build this house for?

[@robertscarpelli7849]

Where are the mechanicals located?

[@peterxyz3541]

Useful. Yjanks

[@samuelwilliams7331]

42 percent margins. Wow.

[@patty109109]

It’s a nice house for sure. I’m surprised builders’ margins are that high, dang.

[@khadijahussain1938]

Does this plan has a basement? I mean the cost including a basment?

[@arminazadfar]

Hello, don't be tired. I am 23 years old, but I am not in America. I am very interested in majoring in real estate. How should I learn the materials and types of house styles?

[@nick_jacob]

1521 square feet at 231k is $153 per square foot. Too expensive. This house should be 150k or less IMO.

[@dcg590]

It’s double here in New England

[@roxycauldwell544]

Right? I feel like I'm the only one getting sticker shock. I feel like the whole reason our stuff is so expensive is because we just take it

[@nick_jacob]

@@roxycauldwell544 That's exactly why it's still expensive. People are still buying it. We are already starting to see foreclosures on the rise. 1500 square feet is not a lot of space for a family. 2200 is ideal for me. Not only that, but nobody calculates the actual payments this would be. If this house were to be financed for 30 years at 6% interest (going right right now!), you would be paying 500k for this house by your last payment. Pile up cash, and pay it all at once to save 250k over 30 years. Unbelievable that houses cost this much. The interest rates are absolutely INSANE right now.

[@LajitasRain]

@@nick_jacob Interest rates are not insane. They are normal. It's the price of the homes that are insane.

[@donaldpiper9763]

The interest rates were 13.5% in 1991 just putting things into perspective. In 1960 they were 4% it’s fluctuating between since . The last decade has been abnormally low , 2%-4% .

[@83dmojica]

What’s the name of this house?

[@nikilragav]

Why did you not include the brick?

[@sloinvestor]

Does this included all subcontractor costs? Or only cost of materials?

[@patty109109]

Includes subs for sure.

[@FreedomAtRisk]

architecture, engineering, permitting costing me more than that in Lake Tahoe

[@danpan001]

Why the builder margin dropped from 40% to 30% if lumber price dropped almost 60%?

[@DiogenesNephew]

Because a builder's cost isn't 100% lumber-based.

[@annettesurfer]

And the average cost with a basement?

[@clintforest44]

Add on another $25k for an unfinished basement

[@rongendron8705]

At first, this home seems to be a 'good deal', but it doesn't include the cost of land; which could add $100,000. or more, to the total price! Secondly, it has no basement, which limits storage space or the ability to add a playroom, extra bedroom, etc. Lastly, the "Great Room" effect seems impressive, but then one realizes that there is nowhere else to go! Dirty dishes in the sink, an untidy table & unkempt living room makes it seem cramped!

[@stevelopez372]

Bingo! It doesn’t include Land, Architectural/ Engineered Drawings, Permits and Associated Development fees which are never cheap.

[@encepurdy68]

Expensive design and more labor costs

[@we3k1ngs12]

Things are heating up !

[@BuyingTickets]

yeeee

[@lrx54]

Thank you for the island with No Sink. Every builder putting a sink in the island should be fined. Seriously. New builds feel so small to me. I am not a fan of open concept. Semi open is better. I don’t want to live in a bowling alley. Every home should have a full size linen closet on each floor. Every 2 story home requires a walk in attic space for seasonal storage. Rafters required for roof. Every second floor requires a balcony off one of the bedrooms, for outside space. My home has these features and much much more. 2000 sq ft, all brick exterior.

[@shawnlittle7527]

Every time I want to hear the TV my wife is banging the dishes. Never fails. Make sure the new build has a media room/library.

[@wcbscout]

@@shawnlittle7527 the problem is that as a builder, you are selling to the wife 99% of the time, and the design has to appeal to them, they don't want to picture the hubby partitioned off from them while they are in the kitchen, they want to see the husband and feel connected to them even when not talking, so that's one big component of why you see the kitchen connected to the living room or main living area, it isn't practical but that's what seems to be most women's preference. Thus the desire for the man cave after families settle into their homes, the hubby's realize they need a retreat.

[@catspajamas2961]

@@wcbscout You can achieve that (what the wife wants) with a semi open plan. I have a wall separating the kitchen from the dining room with a walkthrough, which also calms the view of the kitchen from the dining and living rooms, and a raised counter between the sink area and the living room. In the kitchen, you can see and talk with whoever is in the living room, but you don't feel like you're in the kitchen when you're in the living room. I can see how my plan has more wall, counter and cabinet construction than the open kitchen and I wonder if open plans are cheaper and presented as a "feature."

[@Chelseyandfam]

Maybe I’m in the minority but I’m a wife and I want to be alone in the kitchen. I hate open concept

[@madelainem2]

Not really true, I got a closet in a hallway. I added it to my floor plan specifically for that reason. When you are actually living and using the house you will find out that storage space as well as practicality of separating dirtier spaces from living spaces is important and makes life easier. 1500 sq ain’t big.

[@CaptalK]

Can we get more tiny house build videos 🙋🏾

[@pradeepchoudhary1039]

I am looking for a builder who can provide me a quote to build 2200 square feet house in north TX. Please help me if you know someone who can build similar design house. I have 1 acre lot.

[@fsl4346]

Be careful. Do your research. And living in Texas, look for ICF or concrete contractors to build your house, because you guys have all sorts of natural disasters there. Don't build in wood. Build stronger. Enter ICF construction on KZbin and learn. Do a lot of research, and I mean a lot. Be wary of certain contractors. Look at their past projects, ask the home owners yourself. Don't take the contractor's words. You can do a search of all the work that was done by them. Just take your time and do plenty of research. And you have to know what you want. Make a list of what's important to you and what you want in your house. You can buy plans or hire an architect. It won't be easy. But well worth it, if done right. Best of luck.

[@jeremywansbrough237]

wow, New Zealand subcontractors profit 3-8 percent per project

[@fsl4346]

Remember, greed is the name of the game here. Sad, but true. Why I try to DIY most of my projects or cut out the middleman, or buy my own and call a pro. They've gotten extremely greedy in the last 5 years. Everyone wants to be rich in America.

[@jeremywansbrough237]

@@fsl4346 damn, capitalist competition keeps the margins slim here, have you got duopolies or something?

[@mathisnotforthefaintofheart]

What I don't get is this: The US is the third largest country. It has massive amount of space and tons of resources. Why are new houses so expensive? I am not talking about Manhattan or San Francisco. I am talking general. It cannot be just building material and labor? It makes little sense to me...

[@fsl4346]

One word: Greed!

[@nathanielsimes1044]

Too many windows for my liking, specially when the purge happens

[@longwildernesswalks]

Do the majority of the work yourself and save OVER 50%... or just build a post frame barndo.

[@user-rh2nn3tl9J]

I'm looking to build a multiplex in US at the moment. I'm from Europe. Please explain, why Americans call this beautiful designer house? In Europe for the last 10 years is popular modern barn houses with panoramic views, windows height 3-5 meters, from one side of the wall to another. Modern. And it costs to build around $100k. We have less wood, we import it outside because of green laws, but house still is so much cheaper that in US. For $200k we have a decent 3 floor house from bricks with underground parking, not wood. Why USA is so different in it, why modern designer houses yet considered to be LUX, when it's cheap and popular in EUrope? I want to build an average modern house European style, when I show the design - people look at me like I'm crazy, its top1% over the top and all that. While in my country its normal, no one will say its special. Just beautiful yeah, thats it. I'm a little devastated to overpay for the quality, that in Europe we consider cheap and outdated. I don't know how to do it not being overpriced. The wood is the same, but becs of looks of panoramic window (which costs in EU around $15,000) - people want to charge me thinking i'm rich or something and house price doubles.

[@danpan001]

You mean the house price in the States is double of Europe? Or the other way around? I am in L.A. it is expensive here

[@user-rh2nn3tl9J]

@@danpan001 In very short: Yes. In the US quality and design is 2 times worse, and price 2 times higher than in Europe. I'm talking about states like Georgia, Florida. That area. I lived in Cali (Santa Monica), and its probably the most overpriced market of all.

[@kizarumelon2477]

Bs. How is it 240k to build it yourself

[@hrussell9677]

Need tub in master bath. Otherwise, wouldn’t choose this model.

[@shakacien]

Millennial here, bit horrified that it'd take ~ 60 - 120 years of working at a cost efficient full time job to fully finance building my own small home assuming I own the lot and do it myself. Good looking house though.

[@atl-seanocoalsx6044]

Americans, in general, could pay their houses off way faster than you think. Unfortunately, they don't because we have somehow accepted the fact that an 800 car payment is normal and going on 5-6 vacations a year with 1 international trip is totally doable. If we all just lived simple and drove our cars and an extra 3-7 years had no payments, but the house, a 15-year mortgage could even be shortened. Or you could just rent the rest of your life and get nothing in return.

[@billmoyer3254]

make priorities and quit whining

[@seanm3226]

Thank you for the immediate warning of “Millennial here…”

[@ericgeorgetruckgrilling]

People need to prioritize if they want an item. Starting with their post secondary education. Do you really need that student loan or even the education or that fancy $100k pickup? If you can buy a house when you take out a mortgage do weekly payments and a 10% yearly bulk payment. We live in an area where houses are about $850k and all 3 of my children have managed to buy houses.

[@user-hc4hk5bs8l]

Boomers over hear saying "prioritize" when they had literally 50%+ cheaper homes available and benefited from decades of economic boons with good wages that didn't require more than a high school degree. Meanwhile millennials with baked in school debt are making 50-60k working full time in the age of inflation. Have some compassion. Buying a home (or even making ends meet) as a young person is objectively WAY more shitty than it was 20, 30, or 40 years ago. All while we fund your social security that we won't even get ourselves.

[@florenceshockley1260]

That's to high price for that size house . I guess it depends on were u live

[@caart6317]

To buy a new construction house in this size you could pay around $400,000 -470,000 See how much gain percentage the builders earn and that IF they don’t cheat on the quality of materials! Be smart! An advice from a real estate broker.

[@fsl4346]

That's nuts. People should continue to rent at this rate. Not for that small thing. That's highway robbery.

[@danpan001]

Depending where. I am in L.A. this house cost more than $800k

[@SpiritualThoughtsMalayalam]

🙏🙏🙏🌹

[@blipblop92]

Bruh you got tile showers and quartz tops

[@SirGriefALot]

I don't understand why houses are so expensive. Or why they're still being built out of wood in 2023.

[@ifeawosika966]

Right? Leave the trees alone

[@fsl4346]

I was thinking the same. So many stronger, longer lasting options out there. I plan on building in the next year or so, and it won't be in wood. Either ICF or CMU. I'd love Precast, but hard to find in my area for residential construction. Will be Owner Builder too.

[@patty109109]

Complaining about costs of homes yet want to move to even more expensive construction techniques?

[@weekendhomeprojects]

No indoor gun range. Pass.

[@popwarhomie]

1500 sq ft for $230k plus that isn't the cost of the property either? Nope.

[@ronnaveau4801]

In Canadian funds 😂

[@spazoq]

Can't wait till next year when the big builders are crying they can't sell the huge inventory of overpriced homes they are building this year.

[@Fordtruckin69]

Unfortunately it won’t happen for a while

[@BrettMcNary]

This house would cost 750k to build where i live. Prove me wrong

[@danpan001]

Why sp much? Permit fee's?

[@BrettMcNary]

@@danpan001 contractor prices and materials. My building permit, owts and plans were $25k alone for 2900 sq ft living space

[@fiily1]

My magic # is $80/sq ft. Houses in NE are going for $350/sq...dummies keep buying, and builders will keep building making a kings ransom.

[@EcoMouseChannel]

People need to start getting AWAY from attached garages... on a wood structure... especially, if we are being forced into electrification of our cars. Ever see a Tesla car fire? They don't stop burning, even with thousands of gallons of water poured on them. Demand better from these developers and stay away from those smaller and smaller lots with tall and narrow houses, with a garage under the whole structure. You will start to see a shift in homeowner and car insurance policies about property damage relating to an e-vehicle battery fire, and who ends up ultimately responsible. I've got it on good authority, they are going to be adding a separate rider policy for incidentals like that.

[@rickcasual]

Electric cars make up 1% of cars on the road. Normal people keep their shitboxes going for 20-40 years then the next guy buys it for cheap and keeps it going. Electric cars are never going to be mainstream, way overpriced and are complete shit in winter.

[@BabyBugBug]

That’s a McMansion lol

[@sa3270]

No it's not. It's less than 1600 square feet.

[@BabyBugBug]

@@sa3270 It’s still ugly as sin

[@fsl4346]

​@@sa3270 He was being facetious 😂

[@raratx.3087]

😂 more like 132 and the contractors are well

[@fk8395]

You guys you pay this much to build a timber house in America??😂😂

[@newviolets8489]

Fishbowl

[@stldweller]

5:58 thank me later.

[@markpaulin884]

Homes and land in the United States is way overpriced and overvalued. It will keep going up until people quit paying ridiculous prices.

[@lynn-haroldthompson2644]

How incredibly mediocre. To build a 1955 house in the year 2023? Ridiculous.

[@caribbeanbound8357]

yea, big empty McMansions wit zero character are way cooler.

[@Sunburst6520]

Listen to Jesus, for he is the way to truth to abundant life. Don't turn your back on love, and love is a kindness(: to preserve and help) that never lies to you. He delights in those that trust him, respect him, and hope In his mercy.

[@KillerBnny]

Minecraft 2.0

[@nikilragav]

I'm I the only one who things siding looks ugly?

[@user-tz5uq2bt1s]

I really hate this design. Can't stand the open kitchen.

[@user-xv6gu7qz4o]

This is just a continuation of just awful, soulless 'design'. Its really disgraceful what you all talk about as design these days. Just awful, basic, box terrible in every way. Bring back some real Architects, and stop the dopes designing houses with a high school education. Absolutely hideous, as most of the open plan crap is.

[@tahaks]

“Hallways are a waste of space” Clearly no idea about design. Architecture is not all about extreme efficiency. There are more important things in the world than that.

[@festusmwathi5064]

Bro it's the taste of the client and you can't do anything about it but to design the way he or she wants.

[@Sushi2735]

Cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap! Horrible design! Strip that architect of their license! This is worse than ghetto housing!

[@festusmwathi5064]

Are you indian 😢😅😂

[@samiamgreeneggaandham]

These houses are complete. Ripoffs. I can flip a house with $30,000 in materials. Me and my parents added a second story to a house, read it all the wiring. Read it all the plumbing. Added a bathroom, full bathroom upstairs. So on so forth and spent 30,000. A good way to avoid massive expense is to not do central air. So on so forth and do a Fujitsu split system or something of the sort. It cost $3,000 to do the entire split system and we hired an AC professional. 1500 for the system and 1500 for the labor. One day. So on so forth. So, to sit here and say that a house that is 1500 ft² cost $250,000 to build by yourself is absolutely f****** insane.

[@stevencirile]

Ok wake up call NO ONE is building for less then 250 a sf, it’s more like 280 to 300 for the average well appointed home.

[@MorningClarity]

That's what I'm finding in the PNW, where are you located? I guess it differs regionally.